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Thread: Reupholstering a steering wheel.

  1. #1
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Airbrush1's Avatar
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    Reupholstering a steering wheel.

    Well, I had started a diy D-cut oem wheel project, but lost interest a bit and let it go by the wayside... I have since spent time researching having my aftermarket wheel reupholstered, and found that it is inordinately expensive (especially for a wheel I paid nearly nothing for).

    Most shops (if you can find one that will take on the work) charge in the neighborhood of $500 to do a wheel for you. This seems stupid expensive until you factor in reasonable labor charges. If hand lacing/stitching a wheel takes an entire day of work in a retail setting, then $500 is a bargain for the end consumer. That said, there's no way I'm spending that for something that I feel like I can do myself (with some help of course)

    I'm going to document my journey here! This is my starting point

    A Personal Fittipaldi wheel, unknown date of manufacture, unknown history. Super rough cosmetically around the grip, but otherwise in great shape, and worth saving! It feels awesome in my hands, and I think the Nardi Tokyo horn button will look great with it once it's finished up.


    Today, I carefully removed all of the leather from the wheel, taking care not to rip it, as I will need it for measurements and pattern making. It came off pretty easily in 4 pieces (one for the rim, and one for each spoke), and this Is what I'm left with.

    I'll hopefully be getting materials together late next week. I have a friend that owns an upholstery shop who should be invaluable help, but I welcome any input or guidance you might want to give me. I'm excited to do this!

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  3. #2
    Individual-1 ☚ ☻ ☛ Agent☣Orange's Avatar
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    For $500, I'd learn how to sew.


    No todo que es oro brilla.

  4. #3
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power bogaut's Avatar
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    theres a place in texas that does it for around 300 including shipping

  5. #4
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power BoBo's Avatar
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    I used Alan Gun on my old Boxster and 92 miata steering wheel. I don't remember how much I paid but it was worth it.

    http://www.aglausa.com/p/home.html

    Or to save cash just cut a new leather for the wheel and do your own install.
    08 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Tuned/Track Prepared
    04 Z4 2.5 M Sport Package
    01 SLK 230 Kompressor AMG Sport Package

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  7. #5
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Airbrush1's Avatar
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    I hadn't seen their work! I'm still going to try to tackle it myself first, but if it doesn't work, 200 bucks is a lot better than 5!

  8. #6
    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift HarryB's Avatar
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    Most places here charge around 100 from what I've heard; we are half way around the planet though...

  9. #7
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here!
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    I would have wet and dry sanded that wheel, to take off the surface, and redye with black leather upholstery dye, topped off by a sealer. Worked well on a Nardi I had, and on a very worn Victoria D-cut wheel.

  10. #8
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! CMP's Avatar
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    I talked to Redline about this a while back, they quoted me $275 and they'd need the wheel for a while.

  11. #9
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Airbrush1's Avatar
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    Redline wanted almost $500 when I talked to them
    I had considered refinishing the current covering, but it was just too far gone to meet my standards

  12. #10
    4,000 rpm - entering the fun zone RustRat's Avatar
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    I have the OEM NA8 eu (eww) spec steering wheel. The three spoke one, not the nice, minimalistic ones. A chunky piece of plastic with a similar design to the NB steering wheels, with space for airbag, even though my car didn't have airbags. I'll try to get some photos later.

    The plastic rim is badly worn and pieces are missing. Should I try to customize it, add and integrate some buttons to control the stereo and other stuff, and reupholster it? Would it be worth it? Maybe I'll use it as a daily, and swap my nardi whenever I feel like it.

  13. #11
    Ninja Messiah kung fu jesus's Avatar
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    there are a few places, one was in Texas, really popular among the BMW set, I'll see if I can find it. NOT cheap, but the stitching details and material quality was excellent.

  14. #12
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Airbrush1's Avatar
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    I've spoken to the company that I believe you are talking about. They quoted me $450 as a general low end estimate

  15. #13
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Airbrush1's Avatar
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    Some progress made! I finally stopped at my buddy's upholstery shop to pick up some materials and pick his brain a bit. He cut me a deal on some remnants from a murcielago job he did (black leather matching that used in the miura) I'll be soaking the old leather overnight to relax it, and then smoothing it and clamping it between two pieces of wood to flatten it and make using it as a pattern much easier.

    I'll then cut the pattern out of the new leather, and take it back for him to stitch the edge so I can lace it up at home.

    Sneak preview of some work he did recently on some carbon/Kevlar recaro's from an rx-7

    I'm so tempted to get a set and have him re-do them for me, they're gorgeous!

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  17. #14
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power bogaut's Avatar
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    oh man. now i need suede covers for mine

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    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Airbrush1's Avatar
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    I started stitching today! This is my first attempt, the other areas should turn out a bit better!

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